THE SECRET OF THE WILLOW WREN 139 



As with instruments, so it is with bird voices ; 

 in proportion as they approach the tones of the 

 human voice, expressive of sympathy, refinement, 

 and other beautiful quahties, they will seem 

 beautiful — in some cases even more beautiful 

 than those which, however high they may rank 

 in other ways, are yet without this secondary 

 sesthetic element. 



